In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
All praise be to Allah, and May peace and blessings be upon His Messenger
In implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, May Allah protect them, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has geared up since early for this year’s Hajj season, issued Hajj health requirements and recommendations for travelers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and published these requirements through Saudi embassies of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Thus, 1,690,000 pilgrims have benefited from the preventive and therapeutic services provided by MOH at health control centers of ports of entry. Besides, MOH, in collaboration with a number of governmental entities, has participated in (Makkah Route) Initiative, through which a number of preventive measures have been taken in the homelands of pilgrims before their arrival to the Kingdom. By Allah’s Grace, this initiative has achieved a paradigm shift in compliance with the health requirements with pilgrims’ vaccination against meningitis and influenza at a rate of 100% for the first time.
During this Hajj season, MOH, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has implemented the electronic Disease Early Warning System (eDEWS) for public health threats and epidemic-prone diseases. About 30,000 MOH employees have participated in serving pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season. MOH has prepared and equipped 25 hospitals (with a 5,000-bed capacity) in Makkah, Madinah, and the Holy Sites, in addition to 142 primary healthcare centers and more than 140 mobile medical clinics at pilgrims’ gathering places. Hence, since the beginning of Dhul-Qa’dah to Dhul-Hijjah 12th, MOH’s health facilities have provided their free health services to about 500,000 pilgrims, in addition to 4,200 inpatient pilgrims. Besides, these facilities have performed 36 open-heart surgeries, more than 750 cardiac catheterizations, 12 birth cases, 600 other surgeries, in addition to dialysis services offered to those in need.
For the first time in this Hajj Season, MOH has launched the (Telemedicine Robot) technology for medical consultations that allows any hospital in Mina to remotely contact with consultants in such delicate specialties. Moreover, MOH has enhanced its hospitals and healthcare centers with language translation devices in 12 languages, in addition to direct translation via 937-Service Center. Also, MOH, has introduced the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) System at 55 healthcare centers and all hospitals of the Holy Sites, in addition to activating the fingerprint identification technology, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior (MOI).
In conclusion, I’m pleased to announce the success of this year’s Hajj health plans and that this Hajj season is free of any public health threats, may Allah be praised. On this occasion, we would like to appreciate the unstinting support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, May Allah protect them, to the Ministry of Health, its employees, and all the state sectors working during Hajj season. Also, I pray for Al-Mighty Allah to accept pilgrims’ Hajj and help them return to their homelands safe and sound.
And may Allah’s peace, mercy, and blessing be upon you!